Page 88 of Maddox

The thought kept a cold chill wafting through me.

The road was dark, Maddox purposely remaining off the interstates. He’d mapped out where we were going and I’d placed my trust in him.

After almost forty-five minutes, he’d finally pulled off onto an exit.

Various twenty-four-hour gas stations remained in the periphery of my vision as he passed, heading deeper into a more rural area. Maddox was determined to find a safe location for the night.

Then what?

What would happen tomorrow?

“Who is Kage?” I asked as Maddox rolled into the parking lot of a small motel.

“Someone I used to know.”

“Someone you served with in the Navy.”

He studied the rearview mirror as he pulled the car around to the side. He’d purposely remained in Virginia, finding a more rural location for us to spend the night. He’d said little on the drive, his silence as unnerving as what we’d discovered earlier. With the drive in his pocket and the printed spreadsheets in a sealed envelope, I still was clueless as to what he was thinking.

Or why all of a sudden it had seemed he didn’t trust Damon. Maybe he didn’t trust anyone while asking me to do so.

I’d known better than to ask him on the drive as he’d been concentrating on watching the road. He’d kept his weapon on the dashboard and every few seconds, I’d glanced at it just to remind myself that what we were facing was more dangerous than I’d originally believed.

“A story that doesn’t need remembering, Charmaine.”

“Because you don’t trust me?”

After placing the gear into park, he dropped his head slightly. In the eerie glow of the dashboard, his face appeared more haunted than before. “There are some things in life we choose not to remember to stay sane. This is one of them.”

“Does it have to do with you being held prisoner by Alfaro?”

“No, it does not. Not this go-around. I’m going to get us a room. Stay here. If you see anything, honk the horn. Do you understand?”

I shivered. “I understand.”

“Stay in the car.”

“I will.”

He moved to open the door then paused. “I’m not a good man by traditional standards, Charmaine, but I’ll promise you I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe so you can return to your life. If you can trust me.” When he tipped his head, his eyes locking with mine, I realized I’d never felt this close to anyone. “Can you do that? Trust me?”

The answer was easy and said for the first time without reservation. “With my life.”

CHAPTER 23

Maddox

The room was shit.

But at least we were safe.

For now.

After sliding the chain on the door into position, I immediately headed to the open drapes, slowly pulling them as I scanned the parking lot. There were few guests, trees surrounding half the perimeter of the two-story motel. With the main road blocked, there was no chance of anyone catching sight of the vehicle I’d borrowed from Damon.

He’d also lent me some clothes since we were both close to the same size. At least that had freed me from the monkey suit I’d been forced to wear for the meetings.

As if anyone cared what I looked like.

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